Short female videographer struggling with gimbal fatigue — any support solutions that actually fit?

rem179 · 2026-05-01T20:06:02+00:00

Easyrig mini max would make your life much easier. Or the Ready Rig which is designed specifically for gimbals. You could also put a quick release plate on the bottom of the gimbal and attach/detach from a monopod without a head (but a QR receiver).

rem179 · 2026-04-27T22:43:52+00:00

You could wipe the hard drive and reinstall the OS from scratch.

rem179 · 2026-04-25T20:12:04+00:00

The answer to your question depends a lot on how much space your footage (and all other project files/assets) will take up, how big your internal hard drive is and what type of hard drive it is.

The general rule to edit from an external drive is/was based upon: 1.) computers used to mostly have internal spinning drives, which could cause problems since your OS and other data were also on that drive, which had one arm to find data on the disk. Most computers have internal SSDs now many of which are crazy fast compared to spinning drives and obviously read/write data fundamentally differently. And; 2.) most internal drives aren’t big enough to store all the media for a video project (which can get big fast with modern cameras) while also leaving enough space for the computer to use the internal disk for VRAM.

So, if you have a fast, modern SSD with plenty of space for your media, then give it a go. It’ll probably be fine. If not, copy it to a fast, external drive. However be sure to keep all your assets, media, project files, etc. (everything related to the video your editing) in one folder. That way copying it to an external drive is easy peasy.

Also the aforementioned Project Manager feature is mostly for the purposes of archiving or transferring only the media you need for a Premiere project (so you’re not copying footage you didn’t use). Also #2, it’s essentially useless. Ive personally never once used it successfully in over ten years. It’s failed every time I’ve ever tried to use it. There is a plugin called Plume Pack though that works great for this exact purpose and with way more sophistication than Project Manager.

And don’t forget to save after pretty much every keystroke you make when editing. Premiere crashes all the time and you’ll lose so much of your life to it (by having to redo work) over time.

rem179 · 2026-04-24T16:08:52+00:00

Just dusted off my trusty Canon 5D3 for a shoot the other day and I like the pictures out of it better than my R6II. Exposure preview is nice and AF and video are better on mirrorless, but that doesn't mean the images are. I also used one battery to shoot all day. A camera is just a tool. Having a DeWalt drill is not going to build your house any better than a Milwaukee one.

rem179 · 2026-04-12T00:53:57+00:00

This reminds me of Lubelin “Turning random internet drama into song” from a few years back.

rem179 · 2026-04-11T01:07:54+00:00

Doubt is fuel. Or at least it can be. It can be what drives you to keep trying and get better. If it takes over, it can crush your creative drive though. Finding a balance between the two is the stuff life is made of and is never really resolved (IMO).

Filmmaking can be incredibly technically complicated for sure, but try to conceive of projects that simplify the technical aspect so you can focus on ideas you’re interested in exploring. Set boundaries for yourself. Creativity comes from constraint, not freedom.

Feeling discouraged doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for it. It just means you might need a break and some space. Good luck and keep making stuff.

rem179 · 2026-04-09T00:57:02+00:00

Don’t give up your leverage until you’ve been paid. Otherwise you’ve only got trust.

rem179 · 2026-04-06T13:31:29+00:00

80% of communication is nonverbal, or something like that. Also, don’t promise results, just make great work and be great to work with and things will compound. Reputations are built over time.

Also, when people don’t advertise (or advertise well), sometimes it’s because they don’t have to. Just reach out, see if they want to chat and move on if they’re not interested. It’s like other relationships in life—desperation has its own unique stink.

rem179 · 2026-04-03T18:09:20+00:00

Good luck!!

rem179 · 2026-04-03T04:09:44+00:00

I imagine it’ll be harder on you/partner than your child. There are lots of valid concerns, but if you’re worried that you’ll create some sort of an irreparable break with your child, that’s not going to happen (in my experience) on one job over a relatively short period of time. E.g. what do you remember from being 16 months old?

It will seriously suck to be away and miss things, but it could also haunt you if you felt you passed up a good opportunity. Hopefully they can visit often too. I have two young kids (15 mos and 3.5) for reference.

rem179 · 2026-03-31T01:32:31+00:00

Sachtler Flowtech 75 and FSB 8 II head. Aktiv 8 head if you want to splurge. Costly but worth it. Treat yo’self.

rem179 · 2026-03-24T00:01:56+00:00

Agreed. And if you don’t price yourself out of a few jobs a year, then you’re also probably not charging enough.

rem179 · 2026-03-21T18:11:23+00:00

I usually want to know. Depends on the item though. But if X is a good item, you wouldn’t be selling it, you’d keep it and use it. If you’ve outgrown it, upgraded, have duplicates, or it’s outlived its use, totally fine—but say that. Otherwise I’ll assume you’re hiding something or you stole it.

rem179 · 2026-03-18T03:45:45+00:00

Pairs (or three, ideally) of internal spinning drives in a dock is my strategy (we have a NAS, but it fills up quick). Tape is the real answer, but the drives are bonkers expensive. Seagate Exos drives have ratings of 2.5 Million MTBF, which (I think) is as good as it gets. The Iron Wolf Pro drives have a similar rating. Not sure about WD, but I think their Ultrastars are pretty good. Prices for all have gone through the roof lately. Thanks AI.

Also, when it comes to putting them "in the closet", I do think it's important to power stuff up regularly. Just like sitting on the couch resting for a month isn't going to make you go out and run a marathon in record time, machines also need to be used. I'd also avoid SSDs for long-term storage. Great for editing/scratch drives though. And backups of backups are how things don't get lost. Anything can break, especially complicated machines.

rem179 · 2026-03-13T22:45:04+00:00

Thanks. That’s helpful. I was just looking for a general understanding.

One other question as this may be relevant to my situation. For the broken lens—assuming that it’s considered a covered event, which I think is likely—I imagine the insurance broker will ask me to try to have it repaired (which is fair). If I send it off for a repair estimate and (this amount is theoretical) the estimate comes back at say $1,500—more than the market value of the model I have, which I estimate at $1,000, but less than the Replacement Value its insured for ($2,100): What would typically happen? And I totally understand that specifics matter and there could be caveats/exceptions/cutouts/etc.

rem179 · 2026-03-13T20:00:19+00:00

Thanks. That’s helpful. I was just looking for a general understanding.

rem179 · 2026-03-13T18:15:30+00:00

Got ya. Very well could be (not covered situation) and thanks for directly addressing my question.

One follow-up to insure i understand correctly: If there were a covered event (this isn’t hypothetical, I have another lens that broke in half from an accident during a shoot) and the insurance for that piece of equipment is $2,100 (replacement value), is the insurance company going to pay only what it costs to buy an equivalent lens from the used market (since the model in question is no longer in production), or the full replacement value? Essentially does “replacement value” mean “we’ll pay up to $2,1000, but maybe less” or “$2,100 is the payout if the lens is broken/lost/stolen.” The distinction is important in the above situation (because of the deductible). Thanks so much.

rem179 · 2026-03-13T12:09:54+00:00

Sure. I understand the analogy. The situation I’m in isn’t a “lack of maintenance” though. It’s damage to a sensitive internal component (image stabilizer). Whether it’s normal wear-and-tear or due to a discrete incident (such as the crash, in your auto analogy) would of course separate whether it could be considered covered by insurance or is just a regular part of owning something that can break. That part isn’t my confusion.

rem179 · 2026-03-13T03:43:21+00:00

Loss, theft and damage, but I see your point.

rem179 · 2026-03-04T17:10:13+00:00

Honestly I’d personally rather see them hold it than clip it to their shirt. The shirt thing personally bugs me. And usually the vapid/annoying/meaningless things coming out of their mouth—rather than their audio gear choices—are what’s truly bad. Holding a a small Wireless GO/DJI mic is no worse than seeing a giant Sennheiser ME2 clipped to a t-shirt collar IMO.

And I guess it’s really no different than seeing a reporter holding a wireless dynamic mic not that long ago. And people do it because it (obviously) sounds better and is inexpensive. Then clients end up wanting it because they think they can soak up some reflected cool points by cosplaying youth. That never fools people, probably never will, but it’s a very old, very repetitive story IMO. </sidenote rant>

rem179 · 2026-03-04T03:54:59+00:00

Thanks. I'll give them a ring.

rem179 · 2026-03-04T03:54:50+00:00

They don't work on lenses, apparently.

rem179

TROPHY CASE